Many NASCAR drivers have raced for over ten years and have 36 points-paying races per season, totaling over 300 starts. Fans may ask if NASCAR drivers grow bored with all the repetition.
NASCAR drivers don't get bored while racing. Driving at 200 mph for hours against 39 other great drivers for 3 or more hours involves immense focus and physical exertion, so it's practically impossible for NASCAR drivers to get bored when racing.
We'll discuss whether NASCAR drivers get bored. We'll also disclose a driver's cognitive process during a race and the physical rigors of NASCAR racing. Despite appearances, the sport is physically and mentally demanding.
Does NASCAR Get Boring for Drivers?
Some drivers find NASCAR boring. It relies on the driver's job satisfaction. Some drivers have long careers, never getting bored of the sport. Others retire early, playing a few seasons before pursuing other pursuits.
We've all had boring jobs. Or they may have been fascinating at first, then repetitively boring. Why do some coworkers who have been at a job for a long time still act excited about going to work?
Some people are born with a certain approach and aptitude that allows them to appreciate repetitive jobs. NASCAR is the same. While some drivers may get bored, others will never get bored of the track.
Racing for enjoyment
NASCAR drivers have tried to race well past their prime. Richard Petty is one of the drivers whose career spanned 35 seasons. Ineffective from the late 1980s to 1992, he raced out of enjoyment rather than victory, hinting that boredom never set in.
NASCAR drivers retired early, however. Drivers like Carl Edwards quit after 12 full-time seasons (an impressive tally). Edwards never said if racing bored him. He said he wanted to pursue other chances and had probably had enough of NASCAR.
Notable Drivers Who Never Got Bored of Racing
When you ride with a NASCAR driver via an in-car camera, you may assume it's impossible to feel bored while racing due to the mental load of racing at such high speeds. Many NASCAR drivers either never become bored while racing or hide it well.
J.D. McDuffie, a Cup Series driver who died aged 52, was transitioning to a car owner. When he died in 1991, McDuffie was racing in his 29th NASCAR Cup season.
Darrell Waltrip never appeared to tire of racing. His NASCAR career lasted from 1972 through 2000. In the 1990s, despite not having won a race since 1972, he drove full time.
Morgan Shepherd is a top driver. Shepherd wasn't as successful as the other drivers. In 2014, at age 72, he became the oldest NASCAR Cup Series driver. Shepherd won four Cup Series races and finished fifth in points in 1990.
Have drivers grown bored?
Carl Edwards retired before most drivers. He was so discreet about his personal life that it's unclear if he grew bored or wanted to open additional boxes. Edwards isn't the only driver to retire early.
Drivers like Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, and Tony Stewart all retired before 50. Gordon did return for a few races in 2016 to replace Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Michael Waltrip explained why drivers retire young. Some did compete in their 40s, as he predicted. Lack of motivation is another reason drivers are ditching their helmets. This doesn't imply NASCAR drivers are bored with racing, but they may have lost their motivation.
Why Do Drivers Quit the NASCAR Series?
Drivers like Petty and Waltrip, who raced forever, are exceptions. Michael Waltrip shared more insight on why drivers quit NASCAR early.
Waltrip made it big in NASCAR in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when many drivers didn't until their early 30s. Early starters start earlier. At age 21, in 1992, Jeff Gordon raced in his first Cup series.
Kasey Kahne, 24, completed his first full Cup season.His Rookie of the Year rivals were older. Brendan Gaughan Wimmer, 29, was 28 years old, and Riggs was 33.Carl Edwards, Johnny Sauter, and Kirk Shelmerdine were all 25. Kahne was the oldest driver.
Multiple reasons
If most NASCAR drivers were bored with the sport, they wouldn't have stayed. Gordon's a car owner and announcer. Stewart is the proprietor and announcer. Jimmie Johnson raced in 2022.
Other drivers will go away because of other commitments. Sadler wanted more family time. His brother Hermie never had the same career, but the elder Sadler has always been in wrestling.
In the past 20 years, numerous drivers have stuck with NASCAR in various ways. Brett Bodine once drove the pace car. Kyle Petty and Clint Bowyer broadcast.
What Do NASCAR Drivers Think About During A Race?
NASCAR drivers strive to think clearly during a race, focusing on one duty at a time. This strategy reduces stress and improves concentration at 200 mph. Drivers have spotters and crew chiefs to assist them in thinking clearly.
NASCAR is a sport, and if you know sports psychology, it demands a distinct sport. You may think the primary thought is winning a race, but such a mentality would be too hard on the driver, who is already fighting against 39 others.
Compartmentalize instead. This allows NASCAR drivers to focus on sub-tasks rather than the win. It also lets them focus on one item at a time, such as drafting another car or keeping pace with the cars.
Enter the spotter.
NASCAR drivers aren't alone in compartmentalizing. Their spotters process information. Spotters convey one set of instructions at a time in a calm, clear voice. The spotter stays cool when a driver spins. This keeps the driver's attention on the spotter.
Some crew chiefs and others on the radio won't speak to the driver to assist them focus. They'll relay instructions through the spotter, letting the driver focus on one voice.
Driver-to-driver communication
Despite the spotter being a NASCAR driver's main point of contact during the race, drivers used to be able to converse with each other. NASCAR banned it in 2012. Some drivers liked chatting, but most found it distracting.
Driver-to-driver communication distracted drivers during the race, said NASCAR director John Darby. NASCAR stopped letting drivers talk to each other. Now, drivers can only talk to the spotter, crew chief, pit crew, team owner, and manager.
Few drivers embraced communication because it made green-flag drafting deals easier. NASCAR let spotters listen to other driver-spotter radios to fix the problem. This allowed the spotter to inform the driver.
NASCAR allowed rival spotters and crew chiefs to talk. Spotters facilitate driver communication. Opposing drivers will still offer to negotiate deals, but they must go through their spotter and the other driver's spotter.
Is NASCAR physically demanding?
NASCAR is strenuous. NASCAR drivers must be physically fit to handle G-forces and 100-degree cockpit temperatures. As with any sport, drivers must be fit.
NASCAR drivers used to drink Coke or Pepsi during pit stops. NASCAR drivers can drink water or any hydrating drink today.
During the racing season and offseason, drivers follow stringent diets. They cheat on their diet like everyone else. Don't expect them to consume many empty calories.
A driver's fitness routine is similar. Like NFL and NHL athletes, NASCAR drivers practice year-round. Mark Martin learned in the 1990s that being healthy enhances one's career and longevity.
Science-based
NASCAR isn't a fast-paced game like the NFL, NHL, and MLB. These drivers run marathons. In corners, NASCAR drivers can experience 3 Gs.
The majority of drivers weigh between 140 and 180 pounds (64 and 81 kilograms).They feel 420-540 pounds (192-243 kg) of extra weight throughout a race. NASCAR cockpits can reach temperatures of up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).NASCAR drivers face difficult conditions.
Summary
Few NASCAR drivers get bored during racing. NASCAR is a physically demanding sport that also requires mental focus, strength, and stamina. Because of this, it's unlikely that drivers get bored racing with 39 other cars at 200 mph for more than three hours.